Job market information
Finding out about gambling
The gambling industry is represented by People 1st, the Sector Skills Council for hospitality, passenger transport, travel and tourism. The hospitality, travel and tourism sector incorporates the following industries: contract food service providers, events, gambling, holiday parks, hospitality services, hostels, hotels, membership clubs, pubs, bars and nightclubs, restaurants, self-catering accommodation, tourist services, and visitor attractions. The sector accounts for a workforce of 2.1 million, most of which are based within the restaurants, hospitality services, and pubs, bars and nightclubs industries. The roles within the sector are extremely diverse and include managers, technical staff, front-of-house staff, back-of-house staff, and non-core staff.
The gambling industry includes: casinos; bingo halls; betting; football pools; lotteries; and machines (such as amusement arcades). The industry has grown over the last year, due in part to the popularity of online gambling.
Key facts:
- There are 94,600 people working in the gambling industry.
- 19% of the workforce has an NVQ Level 4 or above qualification.
- The majority of the workforce has a NVQ Level 2 qualification (26%).
- 14% of the workforce has no qualifications.
- 69% of the workforce is employed full‐time.
[N.B. Data derived from Labour Force Survey, 2009.]
Jobs in the industry range from: bingo callers, croupiers, betting shop cashier, assistant general manager, betting assistant manager, cleaner, inspector, pit boss, tele‐betting telephone operator, bingo manager.
Entry and progression
For most entry level jobs, there are no specific academic requirements, but a willingness to work hard, a good attitude, good communication and team working skills can be an advantage. For public facing roles, employers are likely to prefer candidates who have previous experience of working in a customer service environment and show good people skills, as well as an appreciation of the importance of customer service.
There are opportunities for progression in the industry for those willing to take on more responsibility. Previous managerial experience can be an advantage. It is fairly common for people to move between certain areas of work in the industry. As the industry has grown and diversified in recent years, there are an increased number of areas people could transfer in from, particularly banking, call centres and administration.
There is a range of industry endorsed courses, apprenticeships, vocational qualifications, and training schemes available.
For job specific entry requirements, take a look at our job profiles.
Workforce statistics
| Number of UK employees: |
94,600 |
|---|
| Number of UK employers: |
11,500 |
|---|
| Gender: |
44% male |
56% female |
|---|
| Ethnicity: |
93% of the workforce is white and 7% is from black and ethnic minority groups. |
|---|
| Age: |
4% of the workforce is aged 16‐19 years. |
|---|
| 34% is 20‐29 years. |
| 18% is 30‐39 years. |
| 22% is 40‐49 years. |
| 21% is 50 years and older. |
[N.B. Data derived from Labour Force Survey, 2009.]
Employment trends and future prospects
[N.B. Data presented are for the whole hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism sector.]
The following table shows the numbers working across the whole hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism sector and forecasted numbers for 2017. There will also be high demand for new workers to replace those people who have either changed jobs or left the industry altogether.
| 2007 |
2012 |
2017 |
2008‐2017 |
|---|
| Managers and senior officials including: hotel and accommodation managers, restaurant and catering managers, publicans and managers of licensed premises |
590,900 |
617,900 |
659,500 |
+12% |
| Skilled trades including: chefs/cooks |
213,700 |
209,300 |
193,800 |
‐9% |
| Elementary including: kitchen and catering assistants, waiting staff, bar staff |
768,900 |
821,800 |
853,600 |
+11% |
[N.B. Data from Warwick Institute for Employment Research, Working Futures, 2007‐2017.]
Skill requirements and shortages
[N.B. Data presented are for the whole hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism sector.]
The five most common skill requirements are: technical, practical or job‐specific skills; customer handling skills; team working skills; oral communication skills; and problem solving skills.
Occupational trends
[N.B. Data presented are for the whole hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism sector.]
There are a number of ‘core’ occupations commonly found in hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism sector. The following table lists the numbers working in these occupations across the whole sector.
| Hotel and accommodation managers |
57,700 |
|---|
| Conference and exhibition managers |
23,700 |
|---|
| Restaurant and catering managers |
148,200 |
|---|
| Publicans and managers of licensed premises |
46,900 |
|---|
| Chefs and cooks |
255,100 |
|---|
| Kitchen and catering assistants |
394,600 |
|---|
| Waiting staff |
222,200 |
|---|
| Bar staff |
197,800 |
|---|
| Leisure and theme park attendants |
21,100 |
|---|
[N.B. Data derived from Labour Force Survey, 2009.]
National and regional data
East Midlands – There are approximately 4,900 people working in the gambling industry in this region, of which:
- 33% of the workforce is 35‐39 years
- 64% work full‐time
- The majority of the workforce has no qualification (31%)
East of England – There are approximately 7,500 people working in the gambling industry in this region, of which:
- 62% of the workforce is female
- 20% of the workforce is 50‐54 years
- 27% of the workforce has an NVQ level 3 qualification
London – There are approximately 13,200 people working in the gambling industry in this region, of which:
- 54% of the workforce is female
- 71% of the workforce is white
- 27% of the workforce is 20‐24 years
- 27% of the workforce has an NVQ level 2 qualification
North East – There are approximately 7,700 people working in the gambling industry in this region, of which:
- 22% of the workforce is 50‐59 years
- 61% work full‐time
- 30% of the workforce has no qualification
North West – There are approximately 13,400 people working in the gambling industry in this region, of which:
- 29% of the workforce is 25‐29 years
- 71% work full‐time
- 42% of the workforce has an NVQ level 2 qualification
South East – There are approximately 10,100 people working in the gambling industry in this region, of which:
- 60% of the workforce is female
- 87% of the workforce is white
- 26% of the workforce is 20‐24 years
- 37% of the workforce has an NVQ level 4 qualification
South West – There are approximately 5,200 people working in the gambling industry in this region, of which:
- 45% of the workforce is female
- 23% of the workforce is 20‐24 years
- 33% of the workforce has an NVQ level 2 qualification
West Midlands – There are approximately 8,100 people working in the gambling industry in this region, of which:
- 94% of the workforce is white
- 25% of the workforce is 25‐29 years
- 71% work full‐time
- 27% of the workforce has an NVQ level 1 and entry level qualification
Yorkshire and the Humber – There are approximately 8,700 people working in the gambling industry in this region, of which:
- 21% of the workforce is 20‐24 years
- 68% work full‐time
- 32% of the workforce has an NVQ level 2 qualification
Northern Ireland – There are approximately 43,900 people working in the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism sector as whole in Northern Ireland, of which 1,200 work in the gambling industry in 100 establishments. Details are as follows:
- 56% of the workforce is male
- 69% of the workforce has an NVQ level 3 qualification
Scotland – There are approximately 183,500 people working in the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism sector as whole in Scotland, of which 10,700 work in the gambling industry in 1,200 establishments. Details are as follows:
- 78% of the workforce is female
- 27% of the workforce is 40‐44 years
- 28% of the workforce has an NVQ level 2 qualification
Wales – There are approximately 86,100 people working in the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism sector as whole in Wales, of which 3,900 work in the gambling industry in 600 establishments. Details are as follows:
- 70% of the workforce is female
- 27% of the workforce is 40‐44 years
- 38% of the workforce has no qualifications
[N.B. Data derived from Labour Force Survey, 2009.]
Salary levels
Pay scales in this industry are variable, so the following only provides an indication of the average annual pay of the current workforce:
- Assistant General Manager/Duty Manager £21,000 ‐ £35,000, General Manager £21,000 ‐ £55,000
- Betting Shop Supervisor/Betting Assistant Manager £13,000 ‐ £18,000
- Betting Cashier/Betting Operator/Tele‐Betting Telephone Operator £11,000 or more
- Betting Shop Manager £15,000 ‐ £20,000
- Bingo Manager/Bingo Club General Manager £18,000 ‐ £30,000
- Bingo Caller £11,000 ‐ £18,000
- Croupier £11,000 ‐ £25,000
- Inspector/Table Supervisor £13,000 ‐ £25,000
- Pit Boss/Casino Room Supervisor £11,000 ‐ £25,000
Career paths
Further sources
Produced Sept 2010, using People 1st AACS LMI report (Jun 2010)
